Canvas truck cover roll-up type



nJuly 31, 1951 E. c. PETERsoN CANVAS TRUCK COVER ROLL-UP TYPE 2 sheexs-sneet 1 Filed March 5, 1949 July 31, 1951 E. c. PETERSON CANVAS TRCK COVER ROLL-UP TYPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

BY v

WMM,

. ,Q 7' 7' OFP/VE VS Patented July 3l, 1951 OFFICE CANVAS TRUCK "COYER ROLL-UP TYPE l Edwin C. leterson: zCrookston, *Application March 3, 1949; Serial No. 79,453

This invention relates to a canvas cover for trucks and more particularly to a retractable can` vas cover having foldable guide members along thesides of the open body Wherebylthelguide members may be folded out of the Way as an obstruction to the expeditiousvloading or unloading ofthe body. 1 z 1 fr., It is an object of this invention to provide a canvas cover for open bodies of trucksand the likeyvhich ymay eiiiciently and quickly be applied over the open topv by one man despite wind conditions and other phenomena whichvr generally cause such diicultyjn the application of -canvas covers that the quired. ,if ,@Another object of` this invention is to provide ac agivas` cover ofthe kind to be more.- particu larlydescribed hereinafter having a pair offold-vv ableguide channel forming members on the opposite side edges of the truck'body for holding and guiding the canvas cover as itis being ex*- tended or retracted froma housing on one end of the body.

`Still another object of this invention is to pro-y vide a canvas cover for open truck bodies as used for transporting grain and like materiall for` securely covering the. grain to prevent it from beingblown from the body While it is being moved about in the course of its transportation. The channel members along the sides of the bodyare so, constructed and arranged to form guide mem-` bers on the sides of the canvas for carrying off any..,moisture .which is. collected on the canvas andgrthereby keeping the grain in the truck ina desired dry condition. ,.With-theabove and other objects in- .view, my-y invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details -of constructiony disclosed inthe drawings and specification and then more particularly pointedy out in; the. appended claims. ifo-In the'drawingszi i fFigure 1 isa top plan View, partly broken away,

oan. open truck lbody having acanvas cover de.-A

vice, constructed according to an embodiment lof my` invention. o

. Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, taken substantially .on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, transverse section, partly broken away taken on the line 3--31of Figure 1.

- Y; Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through .the ,guide channel forming members showingthe vchannel frnring members retracted or folded position. A

services;l of .several menr are re-` in their 7 Claims. y (Cl. 296-98) Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. Y I t 'f Figure 6 is an-end elevation, partly broken away,` of a modified form of this invention.

- Figure 7 isa rear endelevation, partlybrokenaway of the modified form shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 desfl ignates generally a truckhaving a front cab I`I. and a rear body l2. The body l2 is of the type' generally used for conveyinggrain or other ma;

terial which may be readily cast into the body* through the open top .thereoL .The body may be of the general side panel Htype having a pair of side walls I4 and I5,1Qa front Wall I6 and a rear Wall I1. The rearwall llimay be fixed or may be hinged at thebottom or top to provide for the removal or 'insertion of material within the confines of the sideand frontwalls.

In .the use of panel or stake trucks of this general type, considerable diiiicultyis experiencedin containing thegrain or other light material with-4 in thebody vI2 whena high Wind condition exists, due to natural causes or in the conveyance of the material from one point to another wherein a high wind condition is caused to exist overth'e top of, the body. This high wind condition .will normally cause the loose material betweenrthej side walls-to be thrown or lost through the open top of the body. In-order to overcome this loss of material it is conventional tov apply a canvas or other fabric cover over the .open top of the body after the material has substantially illled the body.A` In such high Wind conditions it is frequently very difficult for one or two men to apply the canvas cover over the top of the body as the canvas cover itself is subject to the high wind conditions and requiresa considerable effortfor applying the canvas cover to the body, V.lnorder to overcome this diiiiculty and to provide for the suitable covering of theloosematerial when con#- tained within the body,:I have provided a fabric or flexible cover i8 which maybe quickly vand efc'ientlyl appliedover vtheopen topof the truck" by one man in averyshort length of timeg'"l` VAccordingy to an `embodiment yof my invent the canvas cover la is contained on asprinf"k pressed'roller I8, carried ina housing 20, ysoujtlfifat the cover Il8may beiully enclosed Withinjthe housing 20 or may be extended from the housing andfrom'therollerl!) for. overlying the top,` ope`r`i, surface of they body I"2.v lIn order to'prevent the;` wind from getting underlthe side edgesof, canvas I 8, I ,have provided guidechannels.y 2 I ,II tendingalongfthefopposite side walls of vtheJbody,

I2 for guiding the side edges of the canvas while it is being extended from the body 20 or retracted back into it. The guide channels 2| provide for the suitable support of the side edges of the canvas while providing also for the free sliding movement of the main body of the canvas along the length of the body I2. In order to suitably support the side edges of the canvas I8, the guide channels 2| muvstYeXtend slightly inwardly beyond the innerjsurfacesioffthe sidey walls I4 and 'I5 of the body"'|2,' and asithis inwardl extension of the guide channels 2| provides an obstruction for inserting material into the body I2 or removing it therefrom, the formation of thefguide channels 2|, constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, is such that the channels maybe collapsed and slightly overlie the .inside .walls of the side walls I4 and I5.

4 The housing 2U within which the roller |9..'is rotatably supported is elnngated and adapted to be supported on the upper edge Vof the front wall I6 of thebody I2. The body 20 or .housing is formed of a solid rear wall 22, a bottom wall 24 and Ta `top wall 25. `The housing -Z'U is open-on'fthe rear side thereoisandrthe rearopen side is adapt--V ed 'to be closed bya door Aor Iclosuremember .26. Thewclosure member .26 `ishin'ged `at the bottom edge thereof Yby .a hinge 21 Iand :is 'adapted to subs'tantiall-y close the rear open side fof; the housing. The top-edge 'of the door or closuremember 26 `is rolled 'or inturned, as noted by the vnumeral 2B in the'drawings to provide an elongated bead which extends transversely :of .the body |2,. .along the length :of the housing 2|): A.lhezupper-edge of .the bead 28is spacedldownwardly from fthe lower surface ofthe topwall 25 and :the space rbetween .the upperedge of the door 26 'andfthetop wall .25deflnes a -passage 29 through which the flexible cover I8 is adapted `to be lextended.` "Iiheclosure 26vis--supported on-the lhousing 2l) 'for vertical swinging movement by--the lhorizontal hinge-21 and may be swung to an open rposition which is extended rearwardly from thehousing 2D. The closure or door 2li is vlatched inits closed position,

initheforward opensid'e of the housing 2-0`by a i.

pair of `-latch members 30 'which are carried by a pair of transversely spaced-apart intermediate walls 3 1 and 32. The latch membersinclude an Yinwardly extending pin 3 I 'whichis adapted toengage through a correlated opening 32 in --a rearwardly extending tab 34, vcarried by the upperedgeof the closure 2'6.

`v .The rear Iwall 22 and the lside Walls 35 and 35 of Athe housing 20 extend downwardly below the bottom vwall 24 to Vform a skirt 31 for attaching thebody '20 to the front wall `IIS of the body I2. The .skirt 31 is adapted 'to be engaged ina recess 38, formed between the outer panels of the body I`2-.and the supporting posts 39 generally formed or disposedoutwardly of. the side panels or walls of the body I2. The recess 38 is formed in the forwardsurface of the front wall I6 and in the sidesurfaces ofthe side walls I4 and I5 so that the skirtmay be frictionally engaged between the sidewalls and the supporting post 39. In this manner the housing Y2Il is removably supported on the 'forward end 'of'the'body I2 'and may readily fbefattached to or removed therefrom. The rear 'wall 22, 'of the housing 20 is formed with an opening 40 in'alignment with the bottom Awall 24 so that 'any moisture or waterwhichmaycollect within'the housing =2Il may be readily drained from 'the housing outwardly of the body I2, so that-the water Aor other moisture will not be disposedfwithin Vthe body I2 vfordeteriorating -or 4r otherwise adversely affecting the material presently within the body or the material to be subsequently inserted therein. The opening 40 is formed by striking a detent 4I outwardly from the rear wall 22, at the juncture of the bottom wall 24 therewith so that the outwardly extending detent 4| provides a guard over the opening 40 so that no other moisture or material will be blown into the housing 2Il.- n

Withgthehousing 20 :fastened on thefront wall I5, of the body I2, the cover I8 may be drawn .from the housing 20 rearwardly over the open top. In order to suitably stiffen the flexible body I8ragainst saggingwithin the body I2, suitable transverse bracing members 42 are secured to the ulower side vof the fabric I8, the bracing members .42: being :spaced apart along the length of the fabric and being adapted to be disposed between the convolutions of the coiled fabric wound about the spring roller 19. The spring roller I9 is of ,fa-conventional form and so disposed vwithin the khousing 2|)` that uponxwithdrawal ofthe 'canvas cover .I8 through the aperture 29, the spring 44 will be tensioned so that ,whenthefree .'endfo'f the canvas I8 islet loose, thespring 44 will rewind the cover .I 8 lwithinthe housing`2ll. v

In order to provide for the suitable slidingsupfport of the vside edges of the :cover|8, when vit is extendedalong the length of .the'body I2, Iihave provided a pair of collapsible or 'fo'ldable guide channel members 2| along theropposit-e' side walls. Each of the guide channel members 2| 'is formed in substantially the same manner, :so `tha'tthedescription of one of the channelm'embers 2-`|fwil1 be suitably applicable to the other.

The channel member y2| is formed of a xed supporting member -or plate 545 which is suitably secured, by `bolts 46, or =other suitable fastening means to the outside surface of the vside walls |14 and I5. The supporting f member 45 extends above the upper Iedge of the side walls and-'prof Vides `a-suitable support for #a `pair of hingevdlyy mountedchannel forming members or plates" and 48. One of 'the channel forming vplates 48, as k the uppermost plate, noted 'in Figure -4 :of ithe drawings, is 1formed with a `contour `which will substantially conform to thecontour of 'thetop wall of the housing 20. The outer'edge ofthe upf' per channel forming plate -48 is hingedly mountedy to the extreme upper end of thesupporting plate or panel 45 by a hinge 49. 'The lower lchannel forming member or plate 41 -is provided with ya hinge y5I) at its upper and outer edge, the 'hinge 50 also engaging anupwardly and-inwardly-extendf' ing bracing bar or plate 5|,whichisin turnxed to lor carried by the inner side of `the 'supporting member or plate l45. The upwardly and-inwardlyy supporting member 5| is adapted to vabut and overlie the upwardly and inwardly'inclinedtop edge 52 of the side walls I4'and |5. The hinge 5U is disposed substantially in vertical alignment with V the =inner side of theside walls I4 4:and I5, so that "-in "the vdownwardly swung vposition ofthe lower ychannel forming member -41, `the v-charmel forming member 41 will substantiallylatly lover-'- lieth'e inside surface of the wall I4. Invthe fold-v ed or lcollapsed 'position of the channel 2|, the upper channel forming member 48 will substantiallyoverlie theupper portionof the lower channel forming member 41, in the manner clearly' shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. v

swingably mounted .on y.the inside surface .ofithe' side walls I4 and I5 and'adaptedto engagethei ascasoo:

l lower edge of the upper channel forming'membe'rTIBfso that'the latching member 54 will `suitablyfr'strain the` channel forming members 41. and 48 against freer'swinging movement within ther-.body /'|2."':Asi'de 'from ythe`==latch 54, spring means is provided fornormally pressing the lower channel forming plate 41 into tndedposition. f y v:."Ihespring means 55 is formed "of an elongated coil"'spring 56 which is fixed at one end to the upwardly extending supporting member 45, and at-fth`efother end to a flexible member 51. 'The free-end of the flexible member 51 is trained aboutalpulleyv 58 and Vthen fixedly Securedto the inside surface' kof the lower channel forming plate 41.- The pulley 58 is suitably supported between the hinges 49 .and 50 on the fixed Supporting member 45by a suitable fastening means, noted by the numeral59 in the drawings. In the extended psition of the plate 41,' one edge of the plate 4'1--liadjacent the-.hinge 58, will abut the kinner' dgeof. .the' upwardly and inwardly' inclined sup# porting member 5 for limiting the upward swinging..movement'o'f theplate 41, as biased by the pringi56. to substantial alignment with the upwardly/.and inwardly inclined supporting mem-- bBrLS'LA'sth connection 6U of the flexible membrJS'l' toi'fthe plate '41 is'moved inwardly of the hi'r'ig'ezpoint 50, the tension of the spring 56 will hefexerted `on the plate 141 for pressing the plate toriits'l upwardly extending position for guiding therein the flexible cover I8.

:sii latcliingmemberl Vis pivotally mounted on the?A upper channel forming member 48, at the extrem'sforward en'd thereof and is adapted t0 overlie the yrear edge of the` top' wall 25, of the housing120. The latchA member 6 I, engaging over tlie-rear edge of the housing 20, will hold the uppe:'channel forming nmember 48 in its raised orfoperati-ve positionll The raised position ofthe channelsY 2| is clearly shownfi'n' 'Figure 3 of the drawings,` wherein the main portion of the upper plate48 is udisposed in"a"substantially horizontal position; the lower surface of the plate 48 being:

spaced slightly upwardly above the extreme upper'endof the lower channel forming plate 2|. The space SZ 'bet'weenlv the extreme upper end of the'flowerl channel forming member 41 and the ihneriedge' of the upper channel"forming member cover: :fl 8;' vvincluding "the" transverse supporting strips 42""maybe' slidably engaged, for sliding movement along the llength of the body I2. The

extreme rearl'edges ofthe top and side walls of th'e' y'housing 20 are" a'dapted'to slightly overlie the extremeffforwardedge of the channel forming memberse41fand148 for limiting the extension'Y ofv the channel 2| and for properly positioning theV chaifiel"forming members 41 and 48 so that the space B2, between thelinner edgesrof the channel forming members" will be disposed 'in substantial horizontalvalignmenty with/the' opening 29 "in the housing 20, whereby the cover I8 'may be freely .extended through theopening 29 vandi-along the clined, relative to the side walls 4 and l5, de'j @nega-substantial channel 65 for conducting wate'rdraining down from the side edges of the cover I8, outwardly from the body |2. The drain openings `64, are provided in substantially the lits extreme eX-.f

saine manner and'for the same purpose as the drain openings 40, described for the housing 28.

VIn the use and operation of the truck cover unit, constructed according to.l an embodiment of my.- invention, the side supporting members are initially engaged on the opposite side walls of the main body |2. The housing 20 maytheny be engaged on the front Wallthereof so that the rear edges of the housing 20 overlap the extreme forward edges of the supporting memberv 45 and the Channel forming members 41 and 48. While the truck body I2 is being loaded, the cover I8 will be initially telescoped or rolled within-ithe-housingl and will be restrained against extreme movement within the housing 20 by a transverse stop member 66, which is ixed to or otherwise suitably carried by the extreme rear` end of the canvas I8. The stop member 5B is of a'sufficient size so that it, together with the endmost reinforcing strip 42, will not pass through` the passagepfin therear ,wall of thefhousing. The. channel forming members 141 and 48 will belA disposed in their collapsed or folded position, l whilethejbody lf2 is being loaded; In the foldedl condition of the. channels 2|,y -the channels do not forman obstruction for loading or unloading. of the truck body and their dispositiononthe; side walls is such that they maybe-readily moved t0; @channel-forming, operative position.V -Wh'env thebody |2- is suitably i'llled,` the upper channelforming memberyll; isA initially moved toits fullyraisedY position, andthe latch 4-member 6 Igisen,-r gagedffover thetopsurface ofthe-top wall-of thel the, upper channelforming plate 4B` inv its raised `orioperativeV position. The tension'of the spring'` openings 62 .ofthe confront-ing:channelsZl. IneV thisyposition-the cover |,8 mayfbe drawn alongf the entire -length of the body |2,for-suitably5 closing'theupper open side thereof. vThe rearr end'of'the cover 8 may then be engaged about`l a. suitableifastening:member 61, carried by :the rearwall `l1, onthe outer surface thereof. The

rear.. end ofthe 'channels 2 mayV be' downwardly?.

bowed, as'clearly shown in Figure 2,.to` provide for the .smooth sliding movement of the c'over'ir`` overth'e rear endA of the lower channel member 41, for engagingthe extreme rear endof the cover |8150 -the fastening element 61. Any mois-vy ture, as" raing'collecting on the top surface of the cover I8 will be drained from -the cover down throiigh the side gutters B5 and through the pas- Sagefl' offthehousingZU. In this manner Athey inside',l ofthe body'tlZ may be, maintained dry at all *times fanditfi's Inot necessary',k that the body"y forin"`-of"this inventionwherein'the housing 20 vilieielrli the, .freir edge of eigenen space within the body|q2..Iyn Figures 6 and 7, there is showna vmodifiedforni yof this invention, wherein housing'll' so that the entire area of the body I2 may be used for storing the grain or other material. The housing 18 is formed at its upper of cover' I8 extended4 amazes.;

end in substantially the samegpma-nner asa-the housing-26,7 described above; and av depending',v

formed on the side walls of Athehousing :l and 'is adapted. tosibe'zengaged in :a ac orrelatedA chan.-

nel member "1.2;- or other suitable bracket for Securingfthe' depending*armv 2l, forwardly of the forwardwall of `the'body 12a. f

i fudonot'mean to coniine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, vbut claim' allV variationsefalling within the purview of the amiendedfk claims. y

`:1.fAgcover'unit for a truck havingvan open bodycomprisinga transverse housing engageableA side of the side walls of said body in their folded position. K

2." A coverfunit for a truck having an open body-comprising a spring roller on one endfofl said body, va flexible cover engageable about said roller 'and extensible along the length of said` body, `a pair ofguide channel forming plates hingedly mounted on the opposite side walls of said body, said plates being swingable from Va folded position with one plate overlying the other and both overlying said side walls, to an inwardly extending, channel forming position for receiving the side edges of said cover extended from ysaid roller.

3. A cover unit for a truck' having an open body comprising a spring roller on one end of said body', a ii'exible cover 'engageable about said roller and extensible along the length of said body, a vertical supporting member'on each of the side walls -of said body extending along the length thereof,A a lower channel forming plate hinged on veach of said supporting members swingable from a depending, retracted position,

to :an upwardly and linwardly extendingchannelr forming position; an upper channel forming platehinged on each ofpsaid supporting members, swingable fromia retracted, depending positionfoverlying said lower plate to an inwardly extendingchannel forming position spaced above said lower plate, said cover beingslidable between saidv channel forming plates along the length of saidbody.

.4. A cover unit `for a truck having an Iopenv bodycomprising a, spring roller on one end of saidbody, a 'flexible cover engageable about said roller and v`extensible `along-the length of said body, a :vertical supporting member of each of thefside walls .of said body -extending along they y spaced above said lower plate, said cover being slid-y able -between'ssaid-:channel gformingizplates.. alims'. the .'length of,.said;body, f said vertical supporting members Vformed .with Adrain ,openings/5 adjacent said'lower channel forming plate. "f 5. A cover unit fornaqtruck having amgopen bodyy comprising a spring-roller yon the frontencll of said body; Vtransversely thereof, Aa :flexible cover engageable about said roller .fandextensif ble :along :the "length of said body, a housing about said rollercpen on the rear side vthereofii vertically swinging closurel member .;hinged:.on the lower rear A.edge of-,saidwhousing andiextendf: ing thereacross, a guide bead on-the vuppergedge of said closuremember spaced. downwardlyff-ronr the top wall of .saidhousing, said,cover..-beng1 engageable.oversaidguide beada pair ofrfguide channel'forming platesrhingedly mounted ongthe oppositesidewalls-of saidbody, saidv plates: el= ing swingable from ,-a..folded `position :WithLionei plate overlying the other vandboth4 overlyinglsaid side walls, vto an inwardlyextending, ,channel forming positionfor .receiving the sideedges'gofsaid cover extendedfrom saidrollen 6. A cover unit forsa truck having an..-op en body Acomprising a spring roller on: the` frontfend'. of said body transversely.thereof,. a 'exibleicoverf engageable aboutl said roller andextensible along' the length of saidbody, ahousing''abouti-said` roller open on the rear -side "thereof, axvertically swinging closure member -hinged on ythe `'rear' lower edge of' said housing andextending there across, a guide bead on-.the upper edge of said' closure f member spaced downwardly from'.v the top wall of .said housing, said cover being eni-'r gageable over said guide bead, a pair of `guide channel formingplateshingedly mounted onthe opposite sidewalls of said-body, said platesrbeingi swingable from a folded position withoneplate' overlying the other and both overlying saidfside' walls, to an inwardly extending,` channel formingl position-for receiving the side edges vof said Acoverextended [from said froller, and llatch means engaging said channel plates .and .said housing' for securing said plates in extendedr channel forming position. '7. A cover unit for Yan open body comprising lower channel ,forming lplateshinged on'the opposite :sides of the open body swingable from'waf depending retracted position to1 an upwardlysand inwardly extending channel `forming extendedA position, `-upper channel forming'plates fhinged above each of said lower A)plates swingable from`v a depending retracted position to aninwardly err-t tended channel forming extendingY positionspaced above said lower plates, and a flexible cover member slidably in the confronting chan-1L nels formed `by -said plates in the lextended posi-1' tion thereof. f EDWIN C. PlElftsfiN.`v 'r REFERENCES CITED nThe following references are of record Sinfth file of this patent:`

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Datefv 1,255,809 .Senson Feb. 5,' 1918s 1,656,077 Schlicher Jan. 10, T1928., `2,230,908 yRedman Feb. 4., 1.134,1-.

FOREIGN PATENTS vf Number Country Date 'i 'j 278,862 Great Britain Y O ct. '20, 

